Job Description: Graduate Writing Center Consultants offer one-on-one and group guidance, support and feedback for students and other campus community members on their writing projects. Consultants use collaborative approaches to help students improve not only their writing, but also their understanding of their own writing processes. Graduate Consultants also provide limited supervision and oversight to undergraduate Consultants, and are offered opportunities to assist the Director of the Writing Center in outreach and strategic planning activities for the Center. Graduate Writing Center Consultants will gain critical thinking skills, communication skills, leadership skills, and professional development experience through their work in the Writing Center.
Responsibilities:
- Hold collaborative tutoring/consulting sessions with students regarding their papers and writing processes
- Fill out reports for completed tutoring/consulting sessions
- Welcome visitors into the Writing Center and answer questions writing, appointments and/or other Writing Center services
- Create, cancel and manage appointments for students in the Writing Center scheduling system
- Monitor and respond to emails and phone calls requesting Writing Center services
- Present about Writing Center services to classrooms and at campus events
- Complete required training/orientation, and participate in regularly scheduled training meetings during the semester
- Assist Director in conducting outreach to specific academic departments, faculty and/or campus offices about Writing Center services
- Provide limited supervision and observation of undergraduate Writing Center sessions.
- Other duties, as assigned
Career Readiness Skills You Will Develop through this Position:
- Critical Thinking – Work one-on-one with students to help them identify issues and solutions in their writing. Develop and practice methods of improving writing collabratively with students in real-world and classroom situations. Contribute ideas and experience in training and planning meetings for the Writing Center.
- Communication – Assist fellow Arcadia students, respond to inquiries through phone calls and emails
- Technology – Schedule and manage appointments for students in Accudemia, the Writing Center’s scheduling system. Develop skills in using Zoom and Google Apps when working collaboratively with students on writing in remote/distance learning environments.
- Teamwork – Collaborate with fellow Writing Center consultants and students on navigating interesting and complex writing issues.
- Leadership – Represent the Writing Center in classrooms, and at campus events and activities. Provide limited supervision, oversight and independent decision-making in certain situations in the Center.
- Diversity & Inclusion – Assist students of all backgrounds and experiences in their writing, using tutoring approaches that respect the identities and experiences of all students. Uphold the values and ethics of working in an academic support office.
Required Skills:
- Must be a full-time student in any Graduate program at Arcadia University
- Strong writing and interpersonal skills required
- Timeliness, reliability, and confidentiality are all required
- Must be an adaptable, independent worker who is interested in helping others
- Strong customer service skills
- Must be organized and responsive
- Must be able to provide a college-level writing sample (upon request)
- Must perform well in an in-person or online interview
Preferred Skills:
- Knowledge of Zoom, Microsoft Office and Google Docs/Sheets
- Prior working experience, especially in tutoring and/or collaborative environments, a plus
This is a graduate assistant (GA) position. Applicants must be full-time graduate students at Arcadia University.
Duration of this position: Writing Consultants usually work 4-10 hours weekly during the fall and spring semesters, with opportunities to work more in various programs during the summer (if eligible). Paid orientation/training meetings are typically held just before each semester begins.
Consultants usually work the same shift each week during the semester, which they determine collaboratively with the Director of the Writing Center before the semester begins. The Writing Center is typically open from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, with some remote and online hours available on Saturdays and Sundays, if interested.
Consultants whose job performance is satisfactory are automatically offered the opportunity to work again the next semester, and do not need to re-apply each semester.